Overview:
Concerns are mounting in Washington over the Pentagon’s decision to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, with senior Republicans warning the move could strain the NATO alliance and weaken U.S. security interests. The planned reduction—about 14% of American forces stationed in Europe—comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and questions over strategic priorities.
By Anna Cox with wires
In short:
(ABC-Australia) Two US Republicans serving on armed services committees are concerned the Pentagon’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany could hinder NATO alliances and US security.
The withdrawal of about 14 per cent of US troops from Germany is expected over the next six to 12 months.
The decision comes after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran was “humiliating” the United States in talks to end the war.
Two top US Republicans hold concerns about the Pentagon’s decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany.
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, in a joint statement on Saturday, said, “We are very concerned by the decision to withdraw a US brigade from Germany”.
Mississippi Senator Wicker and Alabama Senator Rogers chair the Senate and House armed services committees.
Their statement comes a day after the Pentagon announced the withdrawal and said the move was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months.
The change would remove 14 per cent of the 36,000 American troops posted in Germany, the highest saturation of US troops in Europe.
An anticipated change
US President Donald Trump threatened the withdrawal earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran was “humiliating” the United States in talks to end the war.
Mr Merz added he could not identify the US strategy to exit.
Following Washington’s decision, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the move as “foreseeable”.
Mr Pistorius told German news outlet DPA the presence of American soldiers was “in our interest”.
“We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our security,”
Mr Pistorius said.
Domestic and international pushback
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on Saturday the alliance was “working with the US to understand the details of their decision on force posture in Germany”.
News of the withdrawal attracted fast pushback from Democrats in Congress, with some believing the move will benefit Russia and weaken US security interests.
Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, labelled the action “reckless”.
“The president should immediately cease this … before he causes irreversible consequences for our alliance and long-term national security,”
Senator Reed said.
Multiple military facilities are stationed in Germany including the headquarters of its European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical centre that treated casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
US nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country.
Ed Arnold, an expert in European security at the Royal United Services Institute, said Europe was more concerned about the redeployment of patriot missile systems and ammunition from Germany to the Middle East.
AP